Wagon-box.



(No Model.)

' Patented Feb. l3, I900. n. A. SMITH. WAGON BOX.

(Application filed June-24, 1899.)

.2 sheets-Sh.eat -l.

Patented 'Fdb. l3, I900. R. A. SMITH.

WAGON BOX.

(Application filed June 24, 1899.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 21,

(No Model.)

7 U Mr/ K 1 m nning-gear.

Ilsurn fira'rns A'IENT OFFICE.

RICHARD A. SMITH, OF BAY CITY, MICHIGAN.

wAcoN-sox.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 643,336, dated February 13,1900.

Application tiled June 24, 1899. $erlal No. 721,728. (No model.)

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, RICHARD A. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Bay City, in the county of Bay and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvemen ts in Wagon-Boxes; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to wagons and vehicles; and the improvements consist in certain new and novel arrangements and combinations of the parts of the vehicle whereby they are better adapted'to accomplish the objects of my invention, which are, first, to produce a Wagon or car body that is especially adapted for the convenient and rapid unloading of sugarbeets, chicory, and similar vegetables and roots and for removing the dirt therefrom while in transit; second, to provide a selfemptying vehicle-body adapted to discharge its contents at the side of the vehicle that can be applied to the running-gear of an ordinary wagon, and also have larger carrying capacity than an ordinary wagon-box, while retaining the load evenly balanced over the I accomplish these objects by the means shown in the accompanying drawings, throughout the several views of which similar figures of reference designate similar parts and devices.

In the d rawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wagon-box with the upper box removed. Fig. 2 is a partial top view of a Wagon, showing the gate-lifting mechanism. Fig. 3 is a perspective view of a complete wagon-box embodying my improvement.

As is clearly shown in the drawings, the device consists in a wagon-box 1, of the usual rectangularform,buthavingalongitudinallyslatted bottom 2, sloping downwardly from the ends of the wagon-box toward the middle and having also a downward slope from one side of the box to the opposite side. Ex-

tending transversely across the middle of the Wagon-box and having a downward slope corresponding to that of the slatted bottom 2 is a central chute 3, the lower end of which passes out through an opening in the side of the box 1. This opening is provided with 'a vertically-sliding door 4., which may be raised or lowered by any suitable means, as by a flexible cord 5, passing over suitable pulleys 6, carried by a frame 7 attached to the wagonbox 1. If desired, two cords may be employed, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2.

The slatted bottom 2 of the box 1 allows accumulated sand and dirt from the load to be sifted out, thus partially cleaning the beets and keeping the wagon=-box free from dirt.

Upon raising the door 4 the load is automatically discharged through the side of the box, doing away with the labor of shoveling by hand.

An upper box 8, adapted to fit the top of the wagon-box 1 and of width equal to about half the width of the wagon-box, is provided, as is shown in Fig. 3. The object of this up' per box is to permit beets or other material to be piled therein above the top of the wagonbox 1 and over the raised portion of the slatted bottom 2, thus equalizing the load on .the running-gear.

By means of the wagon-box above described I am enabled to convey heavy loads of beets, roots, and like material and to automatically discharge them from the side of the vehicle Without altering the runninggear of the wagon or overbalancing the load thereon.

That I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

In a wagon-box for transporting beets and like articles the combination with the box sides, of a slatted bottom sloping downwardly from the ends of the box toward the middle of one side of the box, a movable dischargegate, and an upper box portion arranged over the raised portion of the slatted bottom, all arranged substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I ai'fix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

RICHARD A. SMITH.

Witnesses:

M. H. IRWIN, GEO. E. TURNER. 

